A 1959 drawing of a proposed Monorail loop. (The marks were done by P-I photo editors at the time.) The original caption read: "This is how the Pine St. "loop" of the high-speed monorail system which will link downtown Seattle with the Century 21 Exposition will look. The loop will be around the triangle by Westlake Ave., Pine St. and 5th Ave. The monorail route, about a mile long, will be along 5th Ave. from Pine St. to the Exposition. Lockhed Aircraft Corp. has been named prime contractor to produce the 5-million-dollar monorail system. It is expected to pay for itself in two years. less

A 1959 drawing of a proposed Monorail loop. (The marks were done by P-I photo editors at the time.) The original caption read: "This is how the Pine St. "loop" of the high-speed monorail system which will link ... more

Photo: P-I File

A 1959 drawing of a proposed Monorail loop. (The marks were done by... Photo-773621.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 11 of 101

The Seattle Monorail leaving the Seattle World's Fair terminal on its first trial run, March 3, 1962. (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com)

The Seattle Monorail leaving the Seattle World's Fair terminal on its first trial run, March 3, 1962. (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com)

The October 1962 caption read: Dedicating a bronze plaque marking the "first commercial monorail in the United States" are left to right, Roy W. Morse, Seattle city engineer, Arnold Anderson, Alweg representative; Ed Booth, president, American Public Works Association; Robert Bugher, association director, and Howard Culver, city treasurer. less

The October 1962 caption read: Dedicating a bronze plaque marking the "first commercial monorail in the United States" are left to right, Roy W. Morse, Seattle city engineer, Arnold Anderson, Alweg ... more

The Nov. 1961 photo caption read: The first concrete beam for 1.2-mile monorail line from Westlake Mall to Seattle World Fair grounds is unloaded on Fifth Avenue near Stewart Street from truck which hauled it from Tacoma plant where it was cast. less

The Nov. 1961 photo caption read: The first concrete beam for 1.2-mile monorail line from Westlake Mall to Seattle World Fair grounds is unloaded on Fifth Avenue near Stewart Street from truck which hauled it ... more

The June 1961 caption to this Westlake station photo read: Heavey braced forms hold 22.5 yards of concrete poured into the steel cage to cast colum from T-section to anchoring pad.

The June 1961 caption to this Westlake station photo read: Heavey braced forms hold 22.5 yards of concrete poured into the steel cage to cast colum from T-section to anchoring pad.

Photo: P-I File

The June 1961 caption to this Westlake station photo read: Heavey... Photo-773503.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 18 of 101

The original photo caption read: Both Walter Straley, president of the Century 21 Center, Inc. at the controls of the Monorail blue train, and Sixten Holmquist of Alweg, the Monorail builder, look happy in this view of Straley pretending to be operating the train. [Exact date unknown.] less

The original photo caption read: Both Walter Straley, president of the Century 21 Center, Inc. at the controls of the Monorail blue train, and Sixten Holmquist of Alweg, the Monorail builder, look happy in this ... more

Photo: P-I File

The original photo caption read: Both Walter Straley, president of... Photo-773497.6789 - seattlepi.com

The 1961 photo caption read: This picture, taken yesterday at Fifth Avenue and Battery Street, shows how an underground photographic survey of Fifth Avenue is being made in preparation for the monorail.

The 1961 photo caption read: This picture, taken yesterday at Fifth Avenue and Battery Street, shows how an underground photographic survey of Fifth Avenue is being made in preparation for the monorail.

Firefighters check a Monorail train after it blew a tire near the Seattle Center, September 1984. A tourist, alarmed by the sound of the explosion, fell and slightly injured herself. (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file) less

Firefighters check a Monorail train after it blew a tire near the Seattle Center, September 1984. A tourist, alarmed by the sound of the explosion, fell and slightly injured herself. (Phil H. ... more

Photo: P-I File

Firefighters check a Monorail train after it blew a tire near the... Photo-773469.6789 - seattlepi.com

The Aug. 12, 1974 caption read: Several thousand postal workers jammed the monorail cars as they head into downtown Seattle for lunch and mid-day break from heavy business meetings at the Seattle Center coliseum. less

The Aug. 12, 1974 caption read: Several thousand postal workers jammed the monorail cars as they head into downtown Seattle for lunch and mid-day break from heavy business meetings at the Seattle Center ... more

The Monorail at the Westlake station, March 26, 1975. Photo-773506.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 58 of 101

The Seattle Center Monorail station collapsed under weight of snow, February 1962.

The Seattle Center Monorail station collapsed under weight of snow, February 1962.

Photo: P-I File

The Seattle Center Monorail station collapsed under weight of snow,... Photo-773515.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 59 of 101

The August 1963 caption read: This is the battered and windowless front end of the Monorail's red train after it failed to stop and smashed into a safety bumper at the south end of the Westlake terminal.

The August 1963 caption read: This is the battered and windowless front end of the Monorail's red train after it failed to stop and smashed into a safety bumper at the south end of the Westlake terminal.

Photo: P-I File

The August 1963 caption read: This is the battered and windowless... Photo-773518.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 60 of 101

The Monorail during an early run, March 5, 1962.

The Monorail during an early run, March 5, 1962.

Photo: P-I File

The Monorail during an early run, March 5, 1962. Photo-773523.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 61 of 101

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle Center.

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle Center.

Photo: P-I File

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle... Photo-773527.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 62 of 101

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle Center.

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle Center.

Photo: P-I File

Wreckage of a Monorail train after a July 1971 crash at Seattle... Photo-773529.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 63 of 101

The Monorail travels between the Seattle Center and Westlake Center, Feb. 21, 1989.

The Monorail travels between the Seattle Center and Westlake Center, Feb. 21, 1989.

Photo: P-I File

The Monorail travels between the Seattle Center and Westlake... Photo-773533.6789 - seattlepi.com

Image 64 of 101

The front of a Monorail train slammed into a steel beam at Seattle Center, July 25, 1971.

The front of a Monorail train slammed into a steel beam at Seattle Center, July 25, 1971.

Photo: P-I File

The front of a Monorail train slammed into a steel beam at Seattle... Photo-773536.6789 - seattlepi.com

Nancy Richardson, next to a Seattle Police officer, looks at her broken rear windshield. It shattered when a Monorail from above popped a windshield that came crashing down onto Fifth Avenue, Aug. 27, 1987.

Nancy Richardson, next to a Seattle Police officer, looks at her broken rear windshield. It shattered when a Monorail from above popped a windshield that came crashing down onto Fifth Avenue, Aug. 27, 1987.